Tato (died 510) was an early 6th century king of the
Lombards
The Lombards () or Langobards ( la, Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774.
The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the '' History of the Lombards'' (written between 787 an ...
. He was the son of
Claffo and a king of the
Lething Dynasty.
According to
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea ( grc-gre, Προκόπιος ὁ Καισαρεύς ''Prokópios ho Kaisareús''; la, Procopius Caesariensis; – after 565) was a prominent late antique Greek scholar from Caesarea Maritima. Accompanying the Roman gen ...
, the Lombards were subject and paid tribute to the
Heruli
The Heruli (or Herules) were an early Germanic people. Possibly originating in Scandinavia, the Heruli are first mentioned by Roman authors as one of several " Scythian" groups raiding Roman provinces in the Balkans and the Aegean Sea, attacking ...
during his reign. In 508, he fought with King
Rodulf of the Heruli, who was slain. This was a devastating blow to the Heruli and augmented the power of the Lombards. According to
Paul the Deacon, the war started because Tato's daughter Rumetrada murdered Rodulf's brother.
Tato was murdered by his nephew
Wacho
Wacho (also Waccho; probably from ''Waldchis'') was king of the Lombards before they entered Italy from an unknown date (perhaps c. 510) until his death in 539. His father was Unichis. Wacho usurped the throne by assassinating (or having assass ...
in 510.
References
*''
Origo Gentis Langobardorum''
*''
Historia Langobardorum
The ''History of the Lombards'' or the ''History of the Langobards'' ( la, Historia Langobardorum) is the chief work by Paul the Deacon, written in the late 8th century. This incomplete history in six books was written after 787 and at any rate ...
'' by Paul the Deacon
*''Zur Geschichte der Langobarden'' by Dr. Ludwig Schmidt (Leipzig, 1885)
External links
A translation of Historia Langobardorum*History of the Lombards." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010
Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 25 Mar. 2010
5th-century births
510 deaths
6th-century murdered monarchs
6th-century Lombard monarchs
Lombard warriors
Lethings
Year of birth unknown
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